B.C. residents carry the third-highest amount of credit card debt at $4,223, behind only Alberta with $4,948 and Saskatchewan with $4,550.

That same report found that Canadians aren’t just carrying more credit card debt, they’re also not paying it back. The number of people with an balance 90 days or more past due rose by 3.2 per cent since 2015/

Here are some tips from financial advisors on getting rid of debt:

Accept that regularly carrying a balance is a problem

Draw up a budget that cuts back on spending, but that you can realistically stick to for the long-term

Pay off the credit card with the smallest balance first, because it gives an early motivating win

Once you’ve proven you can stick with a budget, consider consolidation loans to reduce interest rates

Be patient, check in on your progress regularly, and know that it can be a long-term process